Blog

Many people I connect with ask why I became a Gerontologist. The answer is easy: my grandmother and the influence she had on my life. Meet Me – Wendy – at nine years; a beanpole with eternally frizzy hair. I’m visiting my Nana J’s house, located just around the corner from my family home, in…Read more…

In many countries, such as Africa, Japan and Greece, elders or seniors are revered, respected and responsible to pass on wisdom and life experiences with younger generations. In more Westernized cultures, we are often bombarded with anti-aging solutions to fight the decline of beauty and strength. Consequently, we tend to view aging as a skeleton…Read more…

Guest Writer: David Plandein, CPA, CGA The federal government has also introduced a Home Accessibility Tax Credit which will be effective for 2016 and subsequent tax years. Here is a summary of the two tax credits which are now available: BC Seniors’ Home Renovation Tax Credit The BC Seniors’ Home Renovation Tax Credit can be claimed…Read more…

Moving into a long-term care facility can feel like a rollercoaster ride for both the caregiver and the person being cared for. It is full of twists and turns, ups and downs and they usually happen very quickly. We know the drop is coming but the anticipation is often the worst! Even when the ride…Read more…

The common pitfalls of family dynamics and conflicts end to revolve around the issue of caring for an aging loved on. How can we “share the care” without creating unnecessary conflict? It all comes down to family members being able to make key decisions together; reaching consensus on dividing the caregiving tasks and how well…Read more…

I was about six years old when I remember visiting a nursing home. That’s what my parents called Long Term Care in the 70s. Our family drove on Christmas day to visit with our elderly neighbours, the Coppers, who had move into a nursing home in North Toronto the year before. I remember consciously trying…Read more…

Over one million people in BC care for an adult relative, friend or neighbour in BC because of disease, disability or frailty due to aging. Most caregiving relationships are based on good intentions and are very rewarding. However, it can also be exhausting, and emotionally and physically demanding. There are key risk factors that may…Read more…

Making the decision to move a spouse or aging parent into long term care is one of the most difficult decisions families have to make. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s actually helpful to clarify what is meant by “long term care”. Trust me, there are so many different ways to describe this…Read more…

I’ve had the honour of hearing Isobel Mackenzie, our Seniors Advocate for the Province of British Columbia speak on seniors’ issues. Isobel weaves the personal stories she hears from seniors and families to bring life to the gaps in subsidized supports and programs needed to not only keep seniors living as independent as possible but…Read more…

This quote by Silver Donald Cameron captures the incredibly vital yet unrecognized role of family caregivers: “If Canada’s health-care system were a plant, family caregivers would be its roots—fragile, vital and invisible. The part we see—branches, leaves and flowers—is the apparatus of doctors, nurses, clinics, labs and hospitals. But the “visible” health-care system has always…Read more…

Helpful Videos

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Caregiver Consultations: How We Help Frail Elderly Parents

Long Distance Caregiving

“You are amazing! What I tried to do in 2 months, you did in 1 week. You’ve helped us navigate the system, made sense of Mom’s disease, and gave back her independence and control. Thank you for making such a difference in Mom’s life and giving us, her family, complete peace of mind.”